Students build based on theme at annual Charrette Challenge

Published by Julia Salerno, October 05, 2010.

Ten teams of five students from across Ontario and Quebec were aksed a single question: What does the theme "Volution, Evolution, and Revolution," mean to you? The fourth annual Interior Design Student Charrette challenged participants to build a structure based on that theme. The catch? To build their structure in just eight hours, using only their creativity and odds and ends of building materials that were provided through generous sponsorship.

Teams met at 8 a.m. IDC staff greeted them and went over the rules with them. They then received a bagged breakfast and lunch, and fun giveaways for the Challenge. This year's Charrette was expanded to include schools from across Canada, which proved to be a great success. Taking part in the challenge were La Cite Collegiale, Academy of Design, Georgian College of Applied Art & Technology, Algonquin College, Sheridan College, Humber College, Ryerson University, Fanshawe College, Ontario College of Art & Design, and for the first year, Dawson College.

At the end of the build three interior design judges, Tania Richardson, Michelle Gunn, and Tim Au-Yeung, reviewed the structures and evaluated the teams based on the criteria of resourcefulness, creativity, interpretation, deconstruction of the build, and on each team's two-minute presentation.

New to the Charette this year was the presentation of three cheques by platinum sponsor Mumby Insurance Brokers to the first, second, and third place winning schools. The prizes were awarded on the IIDEX Keynote stage.

OCAD was awarded $1,000 for first place; Dawson College was awarded $500 for second place; and Ryerson University received $250 for third place. Congratulations to the winners and a special thanks to all participating schools and the Charrette sponsors. Winning team members and sponsors are listed below. View images of the 2010 Student Charrette.

Product DonationsCooper Brothers internationalDIRTTEnvirotech Office SystemsOctopus ProductsOdyssey WallCoveringsRoxul Inc.Special thanks to Rae Brothers for their continued support in the Student Charrette.